David Wilkins
@dwilkinstcd.bsky.social
Formerly Lecturer (latterly denominated Assistant Professor) in Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin from 1986 to September 2024. Now retired, and in process of settling in at Sidmouth, Devon.
I note, though, that the BBC article does not mention Margaret Burbidge, though she was the first director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory not to hold the title Astronomer Royal, notwithstanding her research contributions and standing. Congratulations to Prof. Dougherty.
July 30, 2025 at 5:43 AM
I note, though, that the BBC article does not mention Margaret Burbidge, though she was the first director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory not to hold the title Astronomer Royal, notwithstanding her research contributions and standing. Congratulations to Prof. Dougherty.
Greenwich, of course.
July 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Greenwich, of course.
It happened to me on the seafront at Sidmouth a few weeks ago. One swooped and made an initial gash, then returned with mates to grab the entire ice cream cone.
May 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
It happened to me on the seafront at Sidmouth a few weeks ago. One swooped and made an initial gash, then returned with mates to grab the entire ice cream cone.
Suppose having at least one Irish grandparent no longer enabled Irish citizenship. Given the numbers of naturalized citizens, those intending to stir up trouble and animus towards immigrants could publicise interviews with Irish in Ireland whose grandchildren could no longer obtain citizenship.
May 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Suppose having at least one Irish grandparent no longer enabled Irish citizenship. Given the numbers of naturalized citizens, those intending to stir up trouble and animus towards immigrants could publicise interviews with Irish in Ireland whose grandchildren could no longer obtain citizenship.
Wondering if this observation was prompted by a recollection of Ireland's controversial "economic citizenship" scheme between 1984 and 1998 - memorably giving citizenship to a Saudi businessman investing in Taoiseach Albert Reynolds's pet food business in 1994.
May 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Wondering if this observation was prompted by a recollection of Ireland's controversial "economic citizenship" scheme between 1984 and 1998 - memorably giving citizenship to a Saudi businessman investing in Taoiseach Albert Reynolds's pet food business in 1994.
Civil servant. Sir Robert Armstrong. Cabinet Secretary under Margaret Thatcher.
April 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Civil servant. Sir Robert Armstrong. Cabinet Secretary under Margaret Thatcher.
And, by 1986, the Irish pound was no longer pegged to sterling. I recall £5 sterling approximately IR£6 back then. I seem to remember also that the two currencies approached parity shortly before the change to the euro.
April 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
And, by 1986, the Irish pound was no longer pegged to sterling. I recall £5 sterling approximately IR£6 back then. I seem to remember also that the two currencies approached parity shortly before the change to the euro.
And the change to km must have pre-dated the Good Friday Agreement. Once the fences,watch-towers, helicopters etc. disappeared, the only indications of crossing the border on the dual carriageway between Dundalk and Newry were the signs for speed limits in mph and km/h.
April 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
And the change to km must have pre-dated the Good Friday Agreement. Once the fences,watch-towers, helicopters etc. disappeared, the only indications of crossing the border on the dual carriageway between Dundalk and Newry were the signs for speed limits in mph and km/h.
Presumably very elderly Irish people. I can recall that, in the '80s in supermarkets in Dublin, loose tea was sold in packets of weights such as 250g, or similar, NOT in quarter-pounds or half-pounds. Milk in litres or half-litres.
April 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Presumably very elderly Irish people. I can recall that, in the '80s in supermarkets in Dublin, loose tea was sold in packets of weights such as 250g, or similar, NOT in quarter-pounds or half-pounds. Milk in litres or half-litres.
Have you visited a pub in Ireland recently?
April 5, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Have you visited a pub in Ireland recently?
Your note 48 gave a line of descent from the Connacht dynasty to the Yorkists that I had not noticed. Unless I have overlooked something, you do not mention descent from the Thomond dynasty through the marriage of William de Burgh to a daughter of Domhnall Mór Ua Briain.
March 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Your note 48 gave a line of descent from the Connacht dynasty to the Yorkists that I had not noticed. Unless I have overlooked something, you do not mention descent from the Thomond dynasty through the marriage of William de Burgh to a daughter of Domhnall Mór Ua Briain.
Many thanks for this!
Having retired, I have lost institutional access to paywalled journals through a university library.
Out of idle curiosity, I was tracing lines of descent from William Marshal and Isabel de Clare a few weeks ago, including many in the article.
Having retired, I have lost institutional access to paywalled journals through a university library.
Out of idle curiosity, I was tracing lines of descent from William Marshal and Isabel de Clare a few weeks ago, including many in the article.
March 5, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Many thanks for this!
Having retired, I have lost institutional access to paywalled journals through a university library.
Out of idle curiosity, I was tracing lines of descent from William Marshal and Isabel de Clare a few weeks ago, including many in the article.
Having retired, I have lost institutional access to paywalled journals through a university library.
Out of idle curiosity, I was tracing lines of descent from William Marshal and Isabel de Clare a few weeks ago, including many in the article.
The top looks like a slice of a "muffin" that one might buy in Marks and Spencer or in Waitrose. The bottom looks more like a slice of a "ciabatta roll". Those who do not shop in M&S or Waitrose might not encounter these. Not a crumpet.
February 19, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The top looks like a slice of a "muffin" that one might buy in Marks and Spencer or in Waitrose. The bottom looks more like a slice of a "ciabatta roll". Those who do not shop in M&S or Waitrose might not encounter these. Not a crumpet.
[continuing] The flag of the College is flown at half mast following the deaths of Fellows of the College.
The flag of the University of Dublin is flown on days where Commencements (ceremonial awarding of degrees) are held.
/4
The flag of the University of Dublin is flown on days where Commencements (ceremonial awarding of degrees) are held.
/4
October 2, 2024 at 11:15 PM
[continuing] The flag of the College is flown at half mast following the deaths of Fellows of the College.
The flag of the University of Dublin is flown on days where Commencements (ceremonial awarding of degrees) are held.
/4
The flag of the University of Dublin is flown on days where Commencements (ceremonial awarding of degrees) are held.
/4
[continuing] The Irish tricolour is flown over Front Gate on St. Patrick's Day, and when various dignitaries come to the College when on official visits to Ireland.
The flag of the College is flown on days important to the College, such as Trinity Monday.
/3
The flag of the College is flown on days important to the College, such as Trinity Monday.
/3
October 2, 2024 at 11:14 PM
[continuing] The Irish tricolour is flown over Front Gate on St. Patrick's Day, and when various dignitaries come to the College when on official visits to Ireland.
The flag of the College is flown on days important to the College, such as Trinity Monday.
/3
The flag of the College is flown on days important to the College, such as Trinity Monday.
/3
[continuing] Indeed the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is currently making a state visit to Ireland. So clearly he was visiting Trinity College on Wednesday.
There are those who express an opinion that the Irish tricolour should be flown above Front Gate every day.
/2
There are those who express an opinion that the Irish tricolour should be flown above Front Gate every day.
/2
October 2, 2024 at 11:08 PM
[continuing] Indeed the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is currently making a state visit to Ireland. So clearly he was visiting Trinity College on Wednesday.
There are those who express an opinion that the Irish tricolour should be flown above Front Gate every day.
/2
There are those who express an opinion that the Irish tricolour should be flown above Front Gate every day.
/2
In South East England, it would rhyme with "sorry". Is pronunciation different in and around Limerick?
October 2, 2024 at 3:18 PM
In South East England, it would rhyme with "sorry". Is pronunciation different in and around Limerick?
This is where I believe Ireland does it well. The legislature passes an act setting up a referendum on making a specified change to the wording of the Irish constitution. The electorate votes. If passed by a simple majority, the constitution changes, and the mandate of the people is discharged.
September 30, 2024 at 8:21 AM
This is where I believe Ireland does it well. The legislature passes an act setting up a referendum on making a specified change to the wording of the Irish constitution. The electorate votes. If passed by a simple majority, the constitution changes, and the mandate of the people is discharged.
Para 97 of Costello J.'s judgment: "This court thus affirms the decision of the High Court. However this Court cannot conclude its judgment without referring to the use of slang or colloquialisms in a formal judgment of the High Court." There follows the objection to 'gaslighting' and 'Mordor'.
September 26, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Para 97 of Costello J.'s judgment: "This court thus affirms the decision of the High Court. However this Court cannot conclude its judgment without referring to the use of slang or colloquialisms in a formal judgment of the High Court." There follows the objection to 'gaslighting' and 'Mordor'.
Case law of CJEU discussed in paras 60 and 66 of Costello J., notably Wells, where "the CJEU held that Member States are required to 'nullify the unlawful consequences of a breach of Community law", and, in para. 63 "the case of Aqua-Pri, in a judgment of 10 November 2022".
September 26, 2024 at 8:23 PM
Case law of CJEU discussed in paras 60 and 66 of Costello J., notably Wells, where "the CJEU held that Member States are required to 'nullify the unlawful consequences of a breach of Community law", and, in para. 63 "the case of Aqua-Pri, in a judgment of 10 November 2022".
Turning to the judgement of Costello J. in the Court of Appeal, para. 58: "Insofar as the appellants contend that they ought to be permitted to advance this argument, the CJEU has consistently upheld national rules requiring a complaint to be properly pleaded."
September 26, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Turning to the judgement of Costello J. in the Court of Appeal, para. 58: "Insofar as the appellants contend that they ought to be permitted to advance this argument, the CJEU has consistently upheld national rules requiring a complaint to be properly pleaded."
[In continuation...] "Examples of gaslighting the decision-maker don't get much better than this."
September 26, 2024 at 7:48 PM
[In continuation...] "Examples of gaslighting the decision-maker don't get much better than this."